Is a Kiss with a Fist Better Than None?

As an avid reader, I tend to require a little love, hope and at least a smooch or two in the book to keep my interests peaked. I tend to enjoy the descriptive properties of a character's personality compared to their whereabouts because, in my opinion, the emotions are key to really being in their shoes and the eyes literally are the window to the soul. 

Frozen in place, Mara watched as he came down the floor. The few steps seemed much too far. It was as if they were on a different dimension, another wavelength altogether, where a few minutes took hours, even days. But she didn’t care. As his eyes lowered and framed his face with an expression of serenity and oblivion, Mara felt herself give in a little to her heart.

She bit her lip as she imagined the color of his eyes, pure and vivid like the whisper of his smile, transient and unforgettable: overcast. She watched as his hands slipped deeply into the pockets of his slacks. That one leisurely movement always gave her chills, scaring and tempting her all the same. -NIMBUS

As one reads, or even if they do not, there is a search going on, especially in romance. It is to find "the one". We find ourselves captivated by the strong, suave, and dashing character and we try and relate/compare this in our modern life. And as we continue to read, it becomes more and more obvious (Fifty Shades, Twilight, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Anne Bishop) that the top-selling authors as well as purchasing readers enjoy a man who is confident yet dark, sorta secretive sexy and needy (not necessarily the whiny, clingy needy). That's where the mystery lives, though... in figuring out the darkest corners of their minds, their deepest secrets. It increases the heart rate, makes a reader excited and eager, because who can tell what will happen next? What will that character do? He/she is so unpredictable. *valley girl voice*

Personally, I enjoy a snarky, intelligent, and passionate male character (human). Arrogance can only go so far and yet someone who has utterly no spine is useless to me. A willful, humble character (human) is a beautiful character (human). Meekness: strength under control. Such a powerful word that is used too inadequately. Do you not agree?

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves."
-Phillipians 2:3

What are good qualities that you enjoy in a character- male or female? 

Is it a leading lady with a bad attitude and the power to back it up?

Trust me, there's power there. That man weighs 200 lbs. 

 A knight in shining armor that has the magical weapon to protect his dame and woo said damsel?

Could be a magical ring...

 Is it love at first sight or a slowly growing relationship that builds over time? 

So, despite the slight bragging above regarding my husband (he is just too cute, but don't tell him I said that. If he asks, I said he is manly!), what I usually look for is "truthful" love; passionate, clear, and pure in its intentions. Veritas.

Love at first sight... kind of...

A man, who appeared around her age, maybe a year or two older, leaned casually against the wall across the street. He looked oddly familiar, as if she had seen him in a dream or should know him, but she couldn’t place a name. 

         His mussed dark brown hair hung in eyes that were the stormiest gray she had ever seen. He was tall, about 6’4”, with a lithe build and dressed in a grey shirt with a black leather jacket. She had a sudden urge to run her hands down that abdomen to see what was hidden beneath the shirt that was annoyingly in the way and the thought shocked her. 

         His right leg was crossed casually over his left foot and his hands were shoved deeply into the pockets of his black jeans that fit his every curve as he stood beneath a tarp labeled “Rose Co. Pawn Shop”. 

         He was the most beautiful creature she had ever seen. His bright eyes pierced through her dark green like thunderheads with an emotion Mara could not quite place. His skin was pale and looked as if she could let her hand drift down his cheek and leave a powdery residue on her palm. 

         Mara’s mind raced. She didn’t know who he was and she didn’t care. All she did know was that she wanted him to come closer to her. She could feel her mouth drop open, but she couldn’t control it. She wanted to touch him, smell him, and taste him. She had never had such an impulse towards a man before and this… this drove her wild. Realizing her jaw was still hanging to her feet, she snapped it shut with a click of her teeth and took a deep breath through her nose. 

         His expression changed at this movement and she could swear he was smiling at her. She knew there was something she should know about this boy, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.

         The wind blew silently as neither of them made a sound. His scent was blown in her direction. It was the most beautiful fragrance she had ever smelled. It reminded her of home, a place she knew little of. 

         The smell took her back and scared her. She stepped away from him as the boy’s expression changed into a look of angry hunger. His glower penetrated her curious gaze with hatred and a feral gleam. He reminded her of a feral tiger that you wanted to pet and cuddle, but you didn’t know for sure if he’d cuddle back or eat your face. Picking up her courage, Mara turned quickly away and headed for home.

         As she walked away, she took the last remaining bit of her courage to take a quick glance at the spot where the man was. 

         The street lamp he had been standing beneath was empty; there was no evidence that he had been there except for a few sparkles that glinted in the lamp light. His smell and appearance still lingered in her mind. 

         Stupid hot guy, she snubbed.

        

----------

         The sly grin of Aleksandr Dalton protruded from the dark shadows of the street like the Cheshire Cat‘s. His eyes appeared next, sneaky and snarly, which matched the always cloudy sky. 

         After the departing figure of the girl fled down the sidewalk, he unleashed himself from the shadows. He had never seen anyone react in quite the way the girl had when she had seen him and he kind of enjoyed the control he had; the way a slight movement made her jaw drop. It made him feel in control of something. He was definitely not in control of himself of late and seeing her reaction made him feel almost powerful. 

         He could feel the zing of electricity in him as his adrenaline heightened and then began to simmer. Yet, while he liked the way she seemed frightened and allured by him, he couldn’t understand the feeling that he himself got when she was standing there. She had done nothing but stare at him wide-eyed and he thought it was the most beautiful thing in the world.

         Her reaction towards him angered and excited him. He was aroused, but very, very nervous. Never had he had anyone really noticed him. People usually looked right through him. She had looked directly at him with eyes so green it felt as if she was searching his soul. This was something very different and he couldn’t get the thought out of his head that she knew who he was.

         Words his mother had spoken to him long ago flashed in the back of his head. He shook it.  The premonition that said he should stay away from her, as if she was a bad omen, was heavy but a deep and dark pulling on the insides of his chest said otherwise.

         It said he needed to find her again.

And perhaps a little linguistic flirting. 'Cause every woman LOVES a man who can quote from Literature...

After she was a few blocks away and had ditched Crimson before he could retaliate, Amarande Black pressed herself up against a tree off the edge of the sidewalk and let out a deep breath.

         Aleksandr Dalton. The one person in the entire world that she was sworn entirely from was the secret angel she’d been infatuated with since that night on the sidewalk.

         How can this be? She thought. Why must irony be so cruel? She closed her eyes tightly. Now he was her enemy. Evil. Her evil angel.

         She wondered how she could’ve been so stupid. Her father would have her head if he knew she had been so careless! Her mind raced and her nails dug into the bark.

         “I believe this is yours.” 

         Mara nearly jumped out of her skin at the voice behind her. She whirled around as a stiletto slipped from her sleeve. She held it up, ready to throw, but she hesitated. She never hesitated.

         It was him, though. Her knife lowered and she stepped back. Somehow, he had found her, followed her. 

         "Who are you?" she demanded through gritted teeth. She needed to know from the horse's mouth, though, he looked nothing like a horse. No, he was quite close to perfect and every time that grey gaze crossed hers she felt her knees weaken.

         The boy smirked and bowed his head slightly, a little notion that made her heart skip and terrified her in the process. "Who? Dear Lady, 'who’ is merely the form behind the ‘what’ and, while ‘who’ I am is none of your concern, ‘what’ I am is exactly what you've been looking for.”

         Aleks' eyes flickered with amusement at the subtle drop in Mara's jaw. He loved what he was doing to her. She was dangerous, he had seen that, but she had also spared him. She had seen something in him that gave him a second chance and in that instant he took it. Hook. And. Sinker. He had been caught before she had even attempted to capture him and he intended to prove to her that this second chance was all he needed.

         Quickly, he pulled his hand from behind his back, his palm up. A dim lightning flickered around his wrist. His eyes swirled like the eye of a hurricane, entrancing her. Involuntarily, Mara crept closer to him as his lightning chain wrapped around her waist. She felt no shock at its touch. It was almost as if it caressed rather than stung. She was mesmerized at the cool touch of electricity, but always her eyes returned to her evil angel's face.

         He tugged on the chain, bringing her inches from his warm form. His breath was sweet in her face and her mind reeled with his beauty. He was like a demon stricken with the necessity of life that she deeply needed, but wanted even more. Her eyes fell half-mast as they traced the lines of his lips. Kiss me.

         "I believe you've been looking for me, Mara," he whispered so close she thought he might actually answer her thought. She felt herself being pulled under his lure and she wanted nothing else.

         His lips parted ever so slightly and her heart lurched into overdrive as his tongue slipped out to wet the corners of his mouth.

         Control. The thought popped into her head spontaneously. Get control over yourself!

         Regretfully, she pulled her gaze from Aleksandr Dalton's face and to the ground as she blinked to regain control. She closed her eyes and began to feel herself become weightless. She slid through his grip as if she hadn't been there at all and backed away from him.

         "Do not mock me, Mister Dalton. I should cut out your tongue for being so cheeky."

         Calculatedly, Aleks took a small step forward, his half-smile still silkily shining on his angelic face. His next move would set the next events in motion. Hopefully, he thought. He was only hoping he had assessed enough about the woman before him to be able to do so.

         "'Dear darling Tessy'," he whispered as he launched towards her in one large step and wrapped his arms around her waist. "'Don't, for heaven's sake, 'mister' me anymore. I have hastened back so soon because of you!'"

         The quote from Tess of the D’Urbervilles made her head spin and rendered her speechless. She didn't know how he knew, but he had hit her in a tender spot and, as his arms pulled her closer, she thought her skin might catch fire. She felt an unknown heat emanate between them and it scared her. She began to feel her control slip as she slipped through his body to the other side of him.

         Her eyes searched the ground as she searched her mind for some explanation for the man behind her. She couldn't look at him without wanting to kiss him and gut him at the same time. That look in his eyes, it seemed so familiar and so haunted. She wanted so much for it to be directed at her again, only her. 

         But she couldn't. She must take him back to her father for the Winter Solstice and take his powers. It was the only way.

         Sucking in a deep breath, she lifted her chin and turned back to him.

         "You have no idea who you are dealing with, Aleksandr Dalton."

         Aleks grinned as he slipped his hands into his pockets and blew a stray strand of dark hair from his eyes. Mara felt her knees shudder.

         "Oh, I think that I do, Mara. You know as well as I that this will not be over quickly. I will not give in to your brother so easily, but you… I just might give in to you. I know that I've been on your mind just as relentlessly as you're been on mine."

         Mara's anger began to swell. His assumptions were beginning to infuriate her, but even worse they were scaring her because she felt the truth in them.

         "You have no idea what goes on in my mind, Dalton, and what does is definitely not you. I'd actually be worried for you if you did know. As for making this quick, well torture is my specialty. So expect an unforgiving end," she snapped triumphantly as she grabbed her dagger from his hand and stomped off.

         "You'll come back to me, Mara," he called after her. "You know you will. Fate is too unkind to allow you not to. This is just the beginning."

         Mara smiled and twiddled her fingers over her shoulder. You have no idea, she thought.

"Kiss with a Fist" by Florence + the Machine:

"It is about two people pushing each other to psychological extremes because they are fighting but they still love each other. The song is not about one person being attacked, or any actual physical violence, there are no victims in this song. Sometimes the love two people have for each other is a destructive force. But they can't have it any other way, because it's what holds them together, they enjoy the drama and pushing each other's buttons. The only way to express these extreme emotions is with extreme imagery, all of which is fantasism and nothing in the song is based on reality."